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Original poster

Quitting PGCE after four months? Looking for advice

46 replies

DishSoap · 04/01/2021 10:46

(copied from academic common room forum-- just looking for as much advice as possible!)

I have been studying/working for a PGCE since September 2020, and it's safe to say that it's destroying my mental health. I absolutely loathe it. I dread waking up every morning and I feel physically ill when I leave the house and 7.15am for the hour-long commute to a school that's less than five miles away (thank you, rural English public transport!).

I've had major depressive disorder for around a decade now, so I'm not suggesting that the PGCE is responsible for bringing it on. Not at all. However, it seems obvious to me that it is exacerbating it. I constantly feel like I'm at breaking point and that I'm on the verge of bursting into tears and literally walking out and running away.

My heart was absolutely 100% in this when the course began but now I just hate it. Am I a completely pathetic, idiotic failure if I leave the course before completing it? Am I dooming myself to a life of zero career prospects? If I were an employer, I probably wouldn't think a whole lot of someone who quit a course after a couple of months.

Sorry for being such a doomer! Just genuinely feeling quite terrible at the moment.

OP posts:

SusieBugandMe · 04/01/2021 10:50

You tried and it and didn’t like it, no shame at all in that.

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take and all that

CaptainMyCaptain · 04/01/2021 10:54

I don't think this year has been a true indicator of what the job will be like but if you hate it so much it's making you ill maybe you should cut your losses. I don't think changing your mind would necessarily put a future employer off but maybe you should talk to a counsellor or tutor from your course (or even someone from the school) before doing anything drastic.

Caesargeezer · 04/01/2021 11:11

I absolutely hated my PGCE and later realised I didn’t enjoy working in the state system. I eventually found an independent school where I love my job. It might be worth sticking it out to get the qualification, all schools are not the same.

HedyPrism · 04/01/2021 11:17

PGCE year is tough (I'm an NQT) and you wouldn't be the first to decide it's not for you. Before you chuck it in, some questions:
Are you taking anything for your mental health? Is your next placement easier to get to? Obviously the public transport makes it harder - electric bike? Scooter?

2ndMrsdeWinter · 07/01/2021 09:46

PGCE year is tough without COVID, the absence of normality and WFH and to navigate. Be kind to yourself and remember that this isn’t what it really what it should look like.

Northernbeachbum · 07/01/2021 09:51

I quit, I loved the teaching but I found it a thankless task and couldnt believe how expectations had changed from when I was a student.

I am SO much happier now - it just wasn't worth the stress for me

YougoFargo · 07/01/2021 09:53

Can you not cycle to work? PGCEs are tough, not always indicative of how it is as an NQT and this year not indicative of teaching as a whole. If you give up now, what is your back up plan? Will you get any
Money back? Is it worth seeing it through for the post graduate qualification if you get no reimbursement? When does your placement change?

Fedup21 · 07/01/2021 09:57

I found the PGCE tough, NQT year tougher and the year after that even tougher (because a loss of extra time/support and an increase of responsibility). I didn’t have depression and had a very supportive boyfriend/husband who did all the housework and was still very stressed.

I’m still in teaching and like it (side stepped role a bit which helped) but I do wish I had chosen something else.

There’s no shame to say you tried it and hated it.

Floralnomad · 07/01/2021 09:59

Can you actually define what it is that you don’t like ?

Squirrelblanket · 07/01/2021 18:57

I started a PGCE and felt exactly the way you did in that I dreaded every day and used to cry on the way in. And sometimes on the way home. I realised I hated the teaching, the culture of schools and education and yes, the children too.

I didn't go back after the Christmas holidays and I've never regretted it. This was 15 years ago and I now have a career that I love. It's really never been an issue in my working life. For the rest of that year I did temp work and explained the whole year by simply saying that I took a year out to earn some money and think about what I wanted to do next and that's always been accepted. I just never mention the PGCE.

I'm sure that some people enjoy it, but most of the people I know who are teachers (some from that course) are tired, overworked and unhappy. Generally and even more so now. Quitting was the best decision I made.

Cerulean60 · 17/01/2021 15:23

I've interviewed a lot of people. Dropping out isn't what's relevant - it's the story you tell around it / the reasons for dropping out. If you said you'd still have loved being a teacher but couldn't handle the pressure of training, that would concern me as it suggests low resilience (and if this is the case - I'd focus on building your resilience rather than quitting). If, however, teaching isn't what you thought it would be, and you've just realised it's not for you after all, then that's fine - any for any future interviews just be clear on what you've learnt from it.

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 17/01/2021 15:28

DD started her PGCE at the same time as you, and has similar issues with transport. She is pretty enthused about her subject, and has good support from her partner, but she's naffed off with teaching 27 hrs a week, unsupervised, from Zoom, with obs no supervision. Word is, everyone will get through, as they've been through an unprecedented year. Only you know/can assess whether this is not worth the effect on your mental health. Another vote for if you can change the commute, would that help?

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 17/01/2021 15:32

PS. Many moons ago, I did a year's teacher training alongside my main degree. Called concurrent CE. Don't think it's available now. I saw it as an additional qualification, and it was necessary if I wanted to go down the educational psychologist training route. The 3 weeks teaching in a secondary school was the longest 3 weeks of my life. I felt like I wasn't teaching them, just containing/policing them. I would have needed to teach for a year to go on to the further training, and that was such a heart sinker, that I carried on with my degree and dropped the teaching, so it depends if teaching was your end goal, or one of a range of possibilities maybe?

thetinselbadge · 17/01/2021 15:33

There is no point plodding along when you hate it this much. It is not serving your happiness or wellbeing and if you feel like this now, it's unlikely you'll put it to any use.

DrDreReturns · 17/01/2021 15:35

I quit my PGCE in May so I wouldn't worry about quitting now. Get out of it, there are plenty of other careers you can do!

Eeyorehoney · 17/01/2021 15:46

I quit after my nqt year due to mental health, sooo much happier now. For me, it wasn’t worth the damage to my mental health. You have gained so many useful skills you can apply to other jobs, it is definitely not a waste.

Drinkarsefeck · 17/01/2021 15:47

I'm another that would say get out now, sometimes you've got to do what is right for you, and this sounds like one of those times. I think teaching is getting increasingly difficult and wouldn't blame anyone who decided it wasn't for them.

PlinkPlink · 17/01/2021 15:50

Also saying get out now.

I loathed it at 3 months but I stuck with it for the full year.
I wish I hadn't.

I do miss the kids. And I'm looking to become a TA when my youngest goes to nursery. No taking work home. Less stress. Less pressure. Not bad pay.

mdh2020 · 17/01/2021 15:51

If its making you feel ill you should quit because it won’t be any better when you qualify. However, think about what it is that you don’t like. My son quit Teach First because his school was toxic ( the words of the Deputy HT who had left). However he resumed his training at another school and has become a happy and valued member of staff.
As people have suggested above, the situation at the moment isn’t typical and you probably aren’t getting the full experience - coffee in the staff room, staff socials and general support.

Plasticfish · 17/01/2021 15:54

I finished mine but then I didn't find it hard like some PPs did (not boasting, just wanted to add context)

If it's not for you I wouldn't bother continuing. Nothing is worth damaging your mental health.

When I did my PGCE I had depression and was going through counselling so I'm not sure it's entirely a mental health issue, more that the profession might not suit you.

Teaching isn't for everyone. If it was, you'd know.

I hope you're able to find happiness doing something else.

blue25 · 17/01/2021 15:56

Sounds like teaching isn’t for you. Lots of other, probably better opportunities out there. Do you have to pay back any funding if you quit?

wiltingflower · 17/01/2021 15:57

I am assuming by doing a pgce you are doing this with a uni? My advice is based on this. I would let your uni course leader know how you are being affected by this- the uni can help you by putting provisions in place in school e.g reduced timetable, extra support from uni or school as needed, pausing your current placement and putting you elsewhere, pausing the placement and let you complete it at current school later etc. You need to ask for help from the course leader, ask for help from academic, wellbeing/counseling support at your uni. I wouldn't leave the course just yet until exploring all options. Teaching is amazing but this year and the last has been really tricky with covid! It's unfortunate but you should be proud of yourself for making it this far. Do you have long left to go until you finish the course?

wiltingflower · 17/01/2021 15:59

The only reason I'm asking if you have long left is because I know some providers are considering extending the length of their courses so you'd finish later on, not June or September.

CrazyToast · 17/01/2021 16:01

I quit mine, I felt the same as you. It hasn't impacted negatively on me at all and was 100% the right thing to do.

Jecstar · 17/01/2021 16:03

Have you spoken to your university tutor or mentor and ITTCO about how you’re feeling? I would want to know if any of my PGCE students were feeling how you describe.

Please don’t rush into any decision until you have sought their guidance. It may be that leaving may be the best option but there will also be other avenues of support depending on what you’re struggling with.

Send an email saying what you’ve said in your opening post, they will want to help.

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